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You could excuse Oliver Glasner for wishing to spend a restful period with his loved ones in Austria ahead of Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth game of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal. However, the idea that Palace could focus on other competitions was quickly rejected by their boss.

"No, I don't think so," remarked Glasner after his team's side's four-one hammering to Leeds. "Should somebody tells me that we are defeated deliberately, the following day I'm not the manager any more."

There is a stark difference in Glasner's approach to cup competitions relative to his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This first was evident during Palace's journey to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in his first complete campaign in command. Under Hodgson, the club had previously been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup when Glasner took over at Selhurst Park. Conversely, Glasner picked his strongest team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, paving the way for a meeting with Arsenal.

That previous quarter-final match concluded in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a rather debated hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, even though Palace having been ahead at the interval. Almost exactly twelve months later, Glasner now faces the task to figure out a strategy for revenge versus the current Premier League leaders in a match that was moved to this week owing to European obligations.

The Price of Success and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own success. Guiding Palace to their first major trophy with victory in the FA Cup final subsequently ushered in the rigors of continental football for the first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several weary players, many of whom have barely had a rest all season.

The coach selected an entirely changed team, including four youngsters, in their final Conference League match. However, ahead of the Arsenal clash, he admitted he will have "no option" but to choose the bulk of his first-choice team, which appeared extremely lethargic as they unusually let in four goals from set-pieces against Leeds. "Must. Yes, have to," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Selection Considerations

On Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the circumstances are distinct. The manager must balance his desire to win a second major trophy with considerable practicality. Last year, a muscle injury to Bukayo Saka suffered in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup comeback significantly damaged their title hopes.

Arteta had made a number of changes for that cup tie but was compelled to bring on his "key players" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to assist Jesus for a crucial goal in a move that left Glasner "furious" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will be the case again on Tuesday.

Arsenal have an eight-match winning streak versus Palace, including seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup meeting and a brace in a later league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first since that setback. Arteta disclosed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are used to it," commented Arteta on the congested fixture list. "In my view this week was the only full week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is will be like this. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the semi-final of a competition so we will be ready."

With key players coming back from injury and a desire to advance, Arsenal present a formidable challenge for a Palace side desperately in need of rejuvenation as the holiday period ramps up.